Jump to content
Snow?
Local
Radar
Cold?
IGNORED

Weather in the general media (Newspaper features etc)


Recommended Posts

Posted
  • Location: Camborne
  • Location: Camborne

Letter in the Times.

 

Met Office report

 

Sir, The Met Office has produced a report (Feb 9; http://bit.ly/1mhW1sJ) on this winter’s stormy weather and how it links to rainfall in Indonesia and exceptionally cold weather over the US (“Met Office science chief attacked for climate claimâ€, Feb 18).

 

We have looked at the potential influence of climate change and all the evidence from observations, theory and models which show that a warming world leads to more intense daily and hourly rainfall. When we add rising sea levels, then the risk to our communities from serious flooding and coastal inundation are increasing with climate change.

 

What we have not said, because that is a matter of ongoing research, is that the recent storms are definitively linked to climate change.

 

The UK has always been buffeted by Atlantic storms and it is reasonable to expect occasional extremes. Now, however, we are being asked whether we are seeing more extremes, more often. This is a matter for urgent and pressing research — which the Met Office, with its world-leading scientists and academic partners, is well placed to undertake.

 

Professor Dame Julia Slingo, Met Office Chief Scientist;

Professor Stephen Belcher, Met Office Hadley Centre;

Professor Adam Scaife, Monthly to decadal forecasting;

Dr Mark Mccarthy, National Climate Information Centre

 

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/letters/article4012538.ece

Edited by knocker
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Just when we started to dry out, storm after storm set to ravage Britain

 

WINTER is set to deliver flood-ravaged Britain one last vicious battering next week as storm after storm tears in from the Atlantic. Gales of up to 80mph threaten to sweep the nation with more heavy rain forecast everywhere. The gentler weather of the past few days will prove short-lived as another shift in the jet stream puts Britain once again in the firing line. As a result another barrage of ferocious winds and torrential downpours is on its way and could last until the end of the month. Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said: “This is a meteorological ricochet. We had seen some light at the end of the tunnel but now we are heading right back into the mire.

 

“It looks like we are facing another run of violent 80mph gales with strong inland winds virtually nationwide from Sunday night onwards.†The Met Office last night issued severe weather warnings for rain from today until Monday with more than three inches expected in the North over the next 48 hours. Around an inch is expected elsewhere, heaping more misery on flooded regions. The Met Office has already confirmed this winter has been the wettest on record. The Environment Agency says there is a continuing risk of flood disruption in Somerset and along the Rivers Thames and Severn over the next few days. It still has two severe flood warnings, 53 flood warnings and 114 flood alerts in place across the UK.

 

It warned of a risk from groundwater flooding in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Kent and Greater London over the next three days. A spokesman said: “In Somerset, severe river flooding on the Somerset Levels will continue for at least the next three days where there is a high overall flood risk. Heavy rainfall is expected across North-west England and Wales on Sunday and Monday. “Significant impacts are expected such as flooding to properties and roads, and travel disruption.â€

 

Technically the end of February spells the end of the winter – but it will not feel like it. Former BBC broadcaster Michael Fish predicted: “There’s plenty more rain and wind on the way.â€

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/461174/Just-when-we-started-to-dry-out-storm-after-storm-set-to-ravage-Britain

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Weather forecasters on blast for 'dry winter' prediction

 

WEATHER forecasters have been ridiculed for predicting the wettest winter on record would be “drier than usualâ€. Met Office experts said in November that Britain would see less rain than normal in the following few months. They even told council emergency planners there was just a 15% chance that the nation would break rainfall records over the winter. But it turned out to be the worst weather prediction since Michael Fish famously said in October 1987 that there was no hurricane on the way.

 

This week it emerged that the past 90 days has seen the heaviest rainfall in over a century with 19.2in since December. And more is on the way, with forecasters warning of another band of rain due this weekend. Huge areas were hit by more than eight weeks of flooding with parts of the south-west still underwater and thousands left with nowhere to live.

 

Tory MP Chris Heaton-Harris said: “The Met Office is very good at predicting weather it can see is coming, but beyond that, its track record is pitiful. Many government agencies and some government policies are dependent on Met Office predictions and so these mistakes potentially are costing us dearly.†And environmental planner Martin Parr added: “It was a load of poppycock. “I don’t know how they could have produced it and circulated it to emergency planners.

 

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/366619/Weather-forecasters-on-blast-for-dry-winter-prediction

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: N.Bedfordshire, E.Northamptonshire
  • Weather Preferences: Cool not cold, warm not hot. No strong Wind.
  • Location: N.Bedfordshire, E.Northamptonshire

Do we really have to keep linking to Mr Fish all the while?

 

they really need to get over it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Weather forecasters on blast for 'dry winter' prediction

 

WEATHER forecasters have been ridiculed for predicting the wettest winter on record would be “drier than usualâ€. Met Office experts said in November that Britain would see less rain than normal in the following few months. They even told council emergency planners there was just a 15% chance that the nation would break rainfall records over the winter. But it turned out to be the worst weather prediction since Michael Fish famously said in October 1987 that there was no hurricane on the way.

 

This week it emerged that the past 90 days has seen the heaviest rainfall in over a century with 19.2in since December. And more is on the way, with forecasters warning of another band of rain due this weekend. Huge areas were hit by more than eight weeks of flooding with parts of the south-west still underwater and thousands left with nowhere to live.

 

Tory MP Chris Heaton-Harris said: “The Met Office is very good at predicting weather it can see is coming, but beyond that, its track record is pitiful. Many government agencies and some government policies are dependent on Met Office predictions and so these mistakes potentially are costing us dearly.†And environmental planner Martin Parr added: “It was a load of poppycock. “I don’t know how they could have produced it and circulated it to emergency planners.

 

 

Oh dear, i must say i have never trusted the met office to be overly good. Maybe the government will start using Netweather ;) haha

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Cold plunge for East Coast US

 

Chris Fawkes explains what's behind the chilly blast expected for northeastern areas of the USA over the coming days.

 

New York outlook for the next 5 days

 

Posted Image

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwh1OgXtpfQ&feature=youtu.be
Edited by Summer Sun
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Calm before the storm: Spring may have sprung... but tomorrow Britain faces 70mph gales and up to a month's rainfall in just 24 hours as ANOTHER storm moves in from the Atlantic

  • Three severe rain warnings issued this weekend, Met Office say
  • Parts of Cumbria dowsed with almost a month's rainfall in 24 hours
  • Up to 70mph gusts will hit the west coast from this afternoon
  • Even flooded south west won't escape - and will be hit with 15mm of rain
  • Environment Agency still has two severe flood warnings following storms
  • Met Office last week described this winter as the wettest on record

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2565370/Calm-storm-Spring-sprung-tomorrow-Britain-faces-70mph-gales-months-rainfall-just-24-hours-SECOND-storm-moves-Atlantic.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

New danger from the floods is revealed after storms unearth wartime BOMBS on beaches ahead of new gales due to hit Britain today

  • Weather reshaped parts of British coastline to reveal weapons
  • Bomb disposal units handling ammunition dropped by Luftwaffe in WWII 
  • Also fears explosives will be found along the Thames after flooding
  • Met Office has warned storms will continue today with gusts of 70mph

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2565824/New-danger-floods-storms-unearth-wartime-bombs-beaches.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Country file weather for the week ahead with Darren Bett

 

Often windy

 

Occasional Rain

 

Some brighter spells

 

Signs of something more settled after next weekend

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfzQF7r4R3c&list=UU48_qOegPs9o7u77DLo7Wlw&feature=c4-overview

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

More flood misery as two months worth of rain is to fall in just TWO days

 

BRITAIN is braced for another week of storms with two months’ worth of rain expected over the next two days. Torrential downpours were due to lash the country last night while gales of up to 80mph in some areas were expected from today. Forecasters warn up to three inches of rain could fall over parts of Britain in the next 48 hours with unsettled weather set to last into next week. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for the North-east, which is expected to take the brunt of today’s storms.

 

But the entire country faces rain, spelling further misery for the flood-hit South-west. Met Office forecaster Charlie Powell said another Atlantic low pressure system is due to sweep in tonight with more bad weather expected at the end of the week. He said: “Some of the rain into Monday could be quite heavy and we are looking at 80mm [3in] with strong gales in exposed regions.

 

“Later on Monday another low pressure system will bring more strong winds and rain and after a brief rest on Wednesday it is a similar picture for the rest of the week. Most of the UK will see some rain and it’s not really until next week that things settle down.†The warning comes as the South-west is coping with floods left by storms that set in before Christmas. The Environment Agency still has two severe flood warnings in place in the South which indicate a “danger to lifeâ€. Nationwide there are 27 flood warnings and 115 flood alerts. River levels have dropped but remain dangerously high.

 

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “Two severe flood warnings remain in place on the Somerset Levels. “Across the rest of southern and central England, river levels continue to fall, including along the Thames and the Severn, although properties could remain flooded for some time. “The weather outlook remains unsettled over the next few days and so the reduction in flood risk across the South will be slow.†He said there is a risk of groundwater flooding over the next three days in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Kent and Greater London, with “significant impacts†possible.

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/461465/Rain-spells-more-flood-misery-as-two-months-worth-is-expected-to-fall-in-two-days

 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Flood sweat and tears: A month's worth of rain falls in one night

 

BRITAIN’S winter of hell will continue with another week of gale-force winds and heavy rain. Flooded areas are bracing themselves for a fresh barrage of downpours after a month’s worth of rain fell in parts of the north last night. The race is on to repair the country’s battered flood defences as more storms roll in off the Atlantic.

 

Threat

Cumbria saw 80mm of rain yesterday, the amount it usually sees in a month, with other areas lashed by 70mph winds. And as one huge bank of cloud moves east today, another will come in to the south-west, unleashing 60mph winds and up to 20mm of rain an hour. Severe flood warnings, meaning a threat to life, will remain in place in Somerset until at least Wednesday, when yet another massive storm will circle in. The Environment Agency is alerting homeowners along the Thames and in parts of Kent and Hampshire to expect flooding.

 

Met Office forecaster Charlie Powell said: “It’s not brilliant news for places that are flooded as it could slow up relief efforts and the drying-up process. “It’s unlikely to be as exceptional as it has been, but will remain unsettled this week, which is of course unwelcome for those affected.†Experts reckon wind and rain will continue until at least next weekend, meaning spring is cancelled until mid March at the earliest. Bomb disposal teams have seen a spate of unexploded World War II explosives washed on beaches. At least six, including anti-submarine mines and mortar shells, have appeared in the south-west and Wales since the bad weather began. Sergeant Lee Henderson, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “There is the potential for further bad weather to unearth more devices. The bombs may still be dangerous and people should not touch them.â€

 

The Army is due to start a “rapid inspection†of miles of weather-smashed flood walls and barriers along rivers and coastlines today. More than 200 troops from the Royal Engineers hope to carry out two years’ worth of work in just over a month to defend Britain from the continued threat. Meanwhile, bickering between the government and local councils over who will pay for future flooding clear-ups drags on. Yesterday, the Local Government Association urged ministers not to scrap a £347million fund used to provide emergency support. But a government spokesman said the current scheme was “poorly-targeted†and promised that other methods would be used to help those hit in the future.

 

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/366882/Flood-sweat-and-tears-A-month-s-worth-of-rain-falls-in-one-night

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Beauty of Britain emerging from the winter: Daffodils and crocuses cover field in colour

 

A WALKER admires a carpet of colourful crocuses as he enjoys the unseasonably mild weather yesterday. Britain’s parks, such as this one by the River Cam in Cambridge, burst into a riot of colour as flowers bloomed when the mercury rocketed to double the 43F (6C) average for the time of year. Although spring is not due to start until March, temperatures hit 15c (59F) in the South and nudged 10c (50F) in the North.

 

The good news is forecasters say the mild weather is set to stay until next month, although there is a risk of some rain. Met Office spokeswoman Nicky Maxey said: “It’s going to stay mild this week. “Temperatures are remaining above average and we have got some nice sunshine on the way for Wednesday.â€

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/461700/Beauty-of-Britain-emerging-from-the-winter-Daffodils-and-crocuses-cover-field-in-colour

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Flood-Hit Farmers Demand Change In Priorities

 

Flood-hit farmers are to find out how the Government's £10m disaster fund will help them recover from the devastation to their land. The pot of cash has been earmarked to help businesses restore productive arable and horticultural land as well as productive grasslands. It is also there to help farmers restore access to fields and improve drainage. More details will be released by farming minister George Eustice as he addresses the National Farmers' Union (NFU) Conference in Birmingham later. He is likely to be questioned on what the Government is planning to do to help agriculture.

 

Farmer John Hebditch told Sky News: "I would like them to put agriculture back on the agenda - that people's income matters as much as nesting birds and various other rare species. "I'm not saying more than them - I just think the balance needs to come back in favour of food production." The scheme was announced by David Cameron on February 11 and opens on February 28. It will allow all farmers affected by the flooding to apply for emergency funding of up to £5,000, covering up to 100% of business costs. The majority of the fund will be reserved for farms that remain flooded.

 

http://news.sky.com/story/1216778/flood-hit-farmers-demand-change-in-priorities

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Winter will be 'drier than normal', Met Office claimed...but the Express knew truth

 

DAILY Express long-range weather forecasters warned a severe winter was on the way months before it turned out to be the wettest on record. As swathes of the nation begin one of the biggest flood-clean up operations in history, experts say we could be dealing with a lesser crisis  if warnings were heeded. The Express took the bold step of issuing the predictions despite at the time flying in the face of Government forecasts which said winter looked dry. In November the Met Office released its three-month contingency planner, which said it was most likely December to February would be drier than average

.

It also said the winter was shaping up to be colder than average, which tied in with the Daily Express’s report warning of 100 days of snow. The Met Office planner said: “There is a preference for below-average precipitation during December. For the December-January-February period as a whole there is a slight signal for below-average precipitation. “The probability that UK precipitation for December-January-February will fall into the driest of our five categories is around 25 per cent and the probability that it will fall into the wettest category is around 15 per cent.

 

“Indications are that December will most likely be colder than average.†Long range forecasters used by the Daily Express including Vantage Weather Services and Exacta Weather had seen signals that, to the contrary, above average precipitation would fall. In line with usual winter blocking patterns, which allow cold air to flow in from the east, they said we could be in for record amounts of snowfall.. The Daily Express did not rule out the possibility that should the weather be milder than average, we would indeed see this fall as rain - which ultimately it did. The Met Office last night came under fire for its “pitiful†forecasts while there were calls for more heed to be paid to long-range methods of forecasting. The Global Policy Foundation said the report had led to a loss in confidence of the Met Office’s forecasts more than a few days ahead.

 

Paul Homewood, author of Not A Lot Of People Know That, said: “It is all very well for the Met Office to claim that they know the reason for the recent wet and stormy weather, but it is clear they knew no such thing last November, when they forecast the likely probability of a dry winter. “Certainly, the factors in the Pacific, that they now blame, were in play at the time. “None of this gives us much confidence in the Met Office’s ability to forecast more than a few days out. “But it must surely also cast doubt on the worth of the latest report, which seems to be a rushed attempt to explain recent bad weather.†Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said: “We always maintained it was going to be a wild winter with very high precipitation.

 

“We said at the beginning we would either be knee-deep in snow or knee-deep in rain. “A the beginning of the season there was a normal winter blocking pattern, and had that stayed in place it would have been snow, as it happened it moved and we got rain. “We may have been more prepared if theses warnings had been taken more seriously, the Met Office turned out to be dramatically wrong. “This has cost people their homes and their livelihoods.†Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden said: “The reason we have experienced storm after storm since autumn is in response to alterations to the Gulf Stream and how it influences the track of low pressure systems/storms.

 

“All that flooding under a colder airmass, and parts of southern England would have seen snow accumulations of several feet.†A Met Office spokesman said: “It’s important to remember that it’s our short and medium term forecasts that are relied on by emergency responders to help them manage the impacts of severe weather. “The Met Office’s five-day forecasts and severe weather warnings have provided excellent guidance throughout the period of exceptionally stormy and wet weather we have experienced this winter.â€

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/461082/Winter-will-be-drier-than-normal-Met-Office-claimed-but-the-Express-knew-truth

Edited by Summer Sun
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Winter will be 'drier than normal', Met Office claimed...but the Express knew truth

 

DAILY Express long-range weather forecasters warned a severe winter was on the way months before it turned out to be the wettest on record. As swathes of the nation begin one of the biggest flood-clean up operations in history, experts say we could be dealing with a lesser crisis  if warnings were heeded. The Express took the bold step of issuing the predictions despite at the time flying in the face of Government forecasts which said winter looked dry. In November the Met Office released its three-month contingency planner, which said it was most likely December to February would be drier than average

 

The Express, Exacta Weather claiming their long range forecasts were right and slamming the Met Office, the cheek, I don't even....

 

Posted Image

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
  • Weather Preferences: Winter: Cold & Snowy, Summer: Just not hot
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire

90% of the comments are people calling them on their BS :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/443462/Winter-2013-expected-to-be-worst-since-1947-with-heavy-and-persistent-snow-forecast-for-UK

 

The latest detailed forecasts for winter 2013 ALL point towards months of relentless extreme cold with heavy snow 'extremely likely' across the country.Arctic air will roar in from the North Pole later this week, triggering the start of the worst winter in many people's lifetimes.Experts in long-range weather forecasting said the WHOLE of Britain should be prepared for this winter to be the most severe since 1947, which saw the UK hit by relentless snow and some of the lowest temperatures on record.

 

James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said Britain is braced for “copious†snowfall this winter with extreme cold expected to last into the spring.

He added that Britain faces “an incomparable scenario to anything we have experienced in modern timesâ€.He said: “An exceptionally prolonged period of widespread cold is highly likely to develop throughout this winter and last into next spring.“It will be accompanied by snow drifts of several feet and long-lasting snow accumulations on a widespread scale.“This period of snow and cold is likely to result in an incomparable scenario to anything we have experienced in modern times.“A scenario similar to December 2010 is likely to develop, but on a more prolonged scale in terms of overall duration.â€

 

 

Yep, spot on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: South Gloucestershire BS35
  • Weather Preferences: Severe weather enthusiast
  • Location: South Gloucestershire BS35

It is a shame some will believe the garbage they print. The express has clearly been making terrible long range weather predictions for a long long time, wheras in my view the Met Office have done very well this winter. It was always stated that their 3 month contingency forecasts are experimental and should not be taken as a forecast. I remember Ian F often giving us insights to what the models they use were showing for up to 2 weeks ahead. Generally they were spot on with the trends I thought...

 

Shame they can't openly argue this point on a news report or something to get it through some thick skulls in this country *cough* Daily Express headquarters *cough*

Edited by Chris K
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Huge pumps from Holland brought in to end misery in flood-hit Somerset Levels but forecasters predict another two weeks of rain to fall across Britain today

  •  The machinery is being used to mover up to seven million tons of water every day from swollen rivers
  • Met Office say that two weeks of rain will fall within 24 hours on already soaked ground across the UK
  • Farming experts demand Britain follows Netherlands' lead and regularly dredge and clear waterways to stop floods  

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2567384/Huge-pumps-Holland-brought-end-misery-flood-hit-Somerset-Levels.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Horsham, West sussex, 52m asl
  • Location: Horsham, West sussex, 52m asl

this spring will be the hottest on record.

 

this spring will be the coldest on record.

 

this summer will be the hottest on record.

 

this summer will be the wettest on record.

 

this autumn will be the stormiest on record.

 

this autumn will be the coldest on record.

 

this winter will be the coldest on record.

 

this winter will be colder than summer.......

 

 

if any of the above statements are true, i will quote myself (one of the above, conveniently forgetting the rest of the statements) and say "the met office said blah blah blah, but i knew the truth.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Clayton-Le-Woods, Chorley 59m asl.
  • Weather Preferences: very cold frosty days, blizzards, very hot weather, floods, storms
  • Location: Clayton-Le-Woods, Chorley 59m asl.

According to Daily Star's tommorow's headlines it says: Sizzling Spring is on its way. Posted Image

Edited by pip22
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Location: Bratislava, Slovakia

Normally I find the arrant codswallop emanating from the Express and their cohorts to be merely risible, but this latest piece is nothing short of contemptible. It's about time someone in the media takes these charlatans to task over their incessant, mendacious tripe which is not only irritating but also damaging to meteorology as a science.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

US Set To Shiver As Polar Vortex Bites Again

 

People in Minneapolis have woken to sub zero temperatures for 49 days this winter. Local weatherman Ian Leonard has run out of ways of telling them what is on its way. "How do I make it entertaining?" he asks, only half in jest. Imagine his predicament. It is not exactly fair, but someone has to take the blame for the worst winter the state of Minnesota has seen in decades. He said: "People hate me right now. You go into a coffee shop, they give you a sideways glance. It's a tough place to be."

 

Minnesotans are tough, known for their forbearance in a state that plunges them into the freezer in winter and the sauna in summer. They are used to being asked by other Americans why they live here. But Mr Leonard say this winter, "they're asking themselves, why DO we live here?" On the streets of a residential suburb we found Letitia de-icing her car in just a pair of jeans and a shirt.  She said: "This is one of the coldest years this is really cold. Keeps getting colder." Snow drifts four or five feet deep line deserted streets. People hurry from their homes to their cars, warned more than a few minutes outside exposes them to the risk of frostbite.

 

Temperatures this cold have not been seen here since the early 80s, but even then they did not start as early as they did this winter or last as long. The polar vortex is being blamed again. An area of rotating very cold air above the North Pole, kept there normally by a belt of high winds.  This year, the belt has loosened - letting slip polar air as far south as Alabama. As many as 180 million Americans are expected to be affected as the polar vortex strikes again this week. The freak weather has killed people, brought frostbite, traffic chaos and power cuts and astronomical heating bills. It will not make people like Ian Leonard any more popular, but weather experts like him say there is no sign of any let up.  The polar vortex is here to say. For now at least.

 

http://news.sky.com/story/1217404/us-set-to-shiver-as-polar-vortex-bites-again

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Spring is here... and so is the sun

 

A MONTH of warm weather with plenty of sunny spells is on the way, forecasters said yesterday. Saturday marks the start of spring – according to the Met Office’s calendar – and experts say that although it’s too soon to put away your brolley, temperatures should stay above normal for several weeks. The mercury hit 59F (15C) in London on Monday, making it the hottest day of the year so far. Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said: “By the middle of next month we could be looking at highs in the low-60s. A definite shift in the weather is on the way. “There are some showers around for the remainder of this week, but after the crossover into spring at the weekend it is a very pleasant picture. It will be much drier than of late, and it is going to stay warm through the month – a very spring-like picture indeed.â€

 

The Met Office said temperatures in the South are expected to remain in double figures this week although more wind and rain is expected from tomorrow. In the North, the mercury is expected to hover nearer to the seasonal average at 8C. However, its three-month contingency planner suggests temperatures are likely to stay above- average until April. A spokesman added: “The first part of March is likely to remain unsettled, particularly across the north of the UK with a mixture of sunny spells and showers, or longer spells of rain.â€

 

The Environment Agency warned yesterday of an ongoing risk of river flooding from the Thames and Severn although water levels are slowly falling. It has issued two severe flood warnings in the South-west region, while there are 22 flood warnings and 95 flood alerts across the rest of the country. A spokesman said: “River flooding on the Somerset Levels will continue for at least the next three days where there is a high overall flood risk. “There is an ongoing risk from groundwater flooding in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Kent and Greater London for the next three days. Significant impacts are expected such as flooding to properties and roads, and travel disruption.â€

 

Recent storms have led to a record number of dead sea birds washing up along the coasts. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales says species affected include puffins, guillemots and razorbills. Conservation manager Dr Lizzie Wilberforce said. “Together with storm impacts and pollution events, we have reason to be very concerned for these iconic species.â€

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/461870/Spring-is-here-and-so-is-the-sun

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...